Ryan has played a key role in the Socceroos' surge to the AFC Asian Cup final, where they will face Korea Republic in front of an expected capacity crowd at Stadium Australia on Saturday.
Ryan kept his third clean sheet of the tournament after the Socceroos scored a comfortable 2-0 win over United Arab Emirates in Newcastle on Tuesday night.
The Socceroos' defence came under severe scrutiny during the FIFA World Cup last June and Ryan himself has said he felt he was not at his best in Brazil as the team crashed out of the event at the group phase, conceding nine goals in the process.
All that is history now, FC Brugge's Ryan said.
"I definitely feel more confident now in myself and in my defenders," Ryan said.
"We had some hiccups at the beginning of the tournament in stoppages of play, conceding from a corner and the throw-in, but we've cleaned up our act in that department.
"In general play the guys have been scrambling well when we needed to and we have been nice and organised.
"Everybody has been doing a great job."
Ryan was delighted with his latest clean sheet in the tournament against a UAE side that gave it everything but ultimately succumbed as Australia's superior fitness came through.
"I'm happy to keep another clean sheet, it's very nice," he said.
"We attack together as a team and defend as a team.
"Against these sort of nations if you keep a clean sheet you are more than halfway towards winning.
"It's still a little bit of a dream at the moment ... the final in Sydney.
"It's my home, I grew up in western Sydney.
"I'm sure it will become a realty in the next few days and I can't wait for it.
"I just hope we can deliver a win for the Australian public."
Talisman Tim Cahill said the players were delighted to reach the final but were not getting ahead of themselves.
"I said to Mile (Jedinak) after today's game 'you know, we probably could have done better'," Cahill said.
"He was not too upbeat and no one is getting carried away because what lies ahead of us is one of the biggest games in Australian soccer history.
"The last 14 months (since Ange Postecoglou took over) the journey has been amazing and I'm really proud of the boys.
"Finally we seem to have the backing of everyone but it is nothing we do not deserve."
Australia lost 1-0 to Korea in the final match of Group A when both teams had already qualified.
The Australians have the opportunity to avenge that defeat in a more meaningful match.
Massimo Luongo, who rather generously was named as man of the match, said there was not much that needed to be changed from the team's unfortunate performance in Brisbane.
"We now have the pressure of playing for a trophy," the Swindon Town midfielder said.
"We know of the mistakes we made in that game and we would not want to change too much.
"I think we dominated that game in Brisbane and the way we play is going to give everybody confidence.
"We will do our analysis but we'll do the same things we do in every game and we'll be well prepared.
"The final will be my biggest game ever and I will enjoy it ... if you can't enjoy games like this you shouldn't be doing it.
"The crowd was a bit quiet tonight probably because of the early goals.
"Sydney will be good. Sydney always delivers and I'm sure it will be something special."
